TALENTED, twinkle-toed dancers are set to tap and twirl their way across the boards of the English Youth Ballet (EYB) after snapping up roles in Swan Lake.

Thirteen-year-olds Joanna Miller and Megan Johnson will join nine-year-old Olivia-Senay Bayram and eight-year-old Matilda Robinson when they take part in the production at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury next month.

The children won their coveted roles after taking part in challenging auditions at the theatre last November, where they competed with more than 200 young hopefuls.

Director and founder of EYB, Janet Lewis, said: “EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers. We saw a very pleasing standard at the audition today and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

They have now joined the rest of the cast for rehearsals at the Aylesbury Vale Academy.

Oliver Speers, who is coaching the dancers, said: “The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – we work them hard but the results are fantastic.

“They learn what the life of a professional dancer is like. They are living their dream and they just love it.”

Performances are April 24 to April 25. Tickets from box office 0844 871 7607 or online at www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury